Here’s my news for 2007. Actually I took the year off! Here’s the excuse:

I have triplet aunts (really!) who live in New Zealand. They were born on December 31st 1926, so Christmas 2006/7 they celebrated their 80th birthdays. A good enough reason to travel to NZ and join in the 240th birthday and New Year celebrations. Afterwards, I travelled NZ from north to south for two months, returning to Europe via Malaysia and the island of Langkawi, which was fabulous.

As I reported previously, I bought a small apartment in Athens (Greece) before the 2004 Olympics, and in between work assignments I’ve spent time there getting the place set up. In 2007, the United Nations, to whom I previously contracted, pleaded having no money, so I spent even more time in Athens. The last piece of the jigsaw was getting a wireless LAN and Skype telephony working. I’ve discovered that you can have more than one connection to Skype logged in at the same time so, when anyone calls me, the phone rings in Athens and Vienna at the same time – amazing!

For anyone interested, my Skype name is: m.j.alexander

2008 started very well. The UN, with now replenished budgets, have contacted me with a three-month contract that should start in February. Also, Jill Newton who has connections with a project for the European Union, kindly told me that they are looking for a usability specialist to start mid-year, and asked if I’d be interested – also amazing! Especially the timing as it will coincide with the end of the UN job.

I guess that’s the news for the moment.

Looking forward to seeing many friends at the ID Reunion in August.

Regards to everyone,

Mike